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Original poster

School making DC wrote a letter of condolence for the Queen

157 replies

wheredidIleavemystyle · 15/09/2022 06:48

The school are creating a book of condolence for the DC to write in.

On the surface of it, this is a nice idea, and I can see

OP posts:
Wereeaglesdare · 15/09/2022 07:43

Why don't you encourage your child to write a letter of condolence for all the people let down by this shit show of a government or to all the old pensioners dying alone.

Dear Betty,

Im sorry you died at home with no heating on. I'm awfully sorry people care more about spending 4 billion on a funeral than about you and the millions just like you. Know that you mattered too. You were a mother a grandmother an aunt a cousin too. One life is not more precious than the next due to their standing in society.

Peace

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:43

I disagree. People should not be made to conform, it is unhealthy. Only doormats do not understand this.

And here is reason number one I'm not a teacher.
Children are expected to complete all kinds of work - conforming and completing work set by your school doesn't make you a doormat.

Andromachehadabadday · 15/09/2022 07:45

carefullycourageous · 15/09/2022 07:37

I disagree. People should not be made to conform, it is unhealthy. Only doormats do not understand this.

It is an important principle that we choose how we feel towards people.

I would have no problem with compulsory homework about the Queen, but not this.

Show quote history

That makes no sense.

Think people shouldn’t conform, but support compulsory homework. So forcing people to conform?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Starlightstarbright1 · 15/09/2022 07:47

Shpaniel · 15/09/2022 07:16

Oh for goodness sake just so it and move on - all this writing notes to schools explaining why your child shouldn’t do it. Precious.

This x 100000000.

I bet none of the posters on here who are so outraged have bothered to channel their ire to their MP and complain about the catrastrophe that is school funding that will very much impact your child.

Has the school forced the child to write pro-Royalist comments? It respectful and topical to mark the death of any person and it’s no more than that.

Suggest you find an actual cause to champion to channel your energies.

Perfectly put

waltzingparrot · 15/09/2022 07:48

It's writing practice using a topical scenario. You are way overthinking it. They are not looking for their political views on the monarchy, they are learning how to use appropriate vocabulary, empathy in their writing etc

carefullycourageous · 15/09/2022 07:50

Andromachehadabadday · 15/09/2022 07:45

That makes no sense.

Think people shouldn’t conform, but support compulsory homework. So forcing people to conform?

Show quote history

It made sense in my head Grin but I typed it poorly.

Compulsory homework e.g. 'write something about the Queen's life in your book' is different to the social conformity of 'send a letter to this person saying how sorry you are the Queen died' IMO.

I have no problem with homework, I have a problem with being asked to express a certain feeling.

It is hard to explain fully but I think the school has overstepped.

I think the same about being asked to pray vs. learning about religions.

Sirzy · 15/09/2022 07:51

Being respectful when someone has died is a time when yes we should conform.

Nothing wrong with children understanding that for certain views their is a time and a place to share them and you can be respectful while stil not agreeing with the overall concept.

longestlurkerever · 15/09/2022 07:52

I know what you mean but yabu in calling a condolence letter performative grief. Dear King Charles. Sorry for your loss. Love, Style Junior. Is a useful thing to learn how to write/say.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 15/09/2022 07:53

It's just writing practice. I'm pretty sure at school I had to do an exercise where I had to pretend to be a character from a book writing a letter to another character. Isn't it the same sort of thing? They're not being asked to pledge their allegiance to the RF, presumably? It's just writing practice.

toomuchlaundry · 15/09/2022 07:53

But @carefullycourageous but you can write I am sorry for you that your mother (who just happens to be the Queen) has died. Don’t have to be sorry that the Queen has died but sorry that someone’s mum has died

longestlurkerever · 15/09/2022 07:53

Most schools did something for the jubilee.

carefullycourageous · 15/09/2022 07:54

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:43

I disagree. People should not be made to conform, it is unhealthy. Only doormats do not understand this.

And here is reason number one I'm not a teacher.
Children are expected to complete all kinds of work - conforming and completing work set by your school doesn't make you a doormat.

You only partially quoted me - probably deliberately but maybe only read part of it - I said regular homeowrk is fine.

I am fine with learning but not with being told what to think. This letter is the latter. This work will have been set by a royalist, a republican would not want to set it. The fact not every teacher would feel comfortable to set it means it is not appropriate.

carefullycourageous · 15/09/2022 07:55

toomuchlaundry · 15/09/2022 07:53

But @carefullycourageous but you can write I am sorry for you that your mother (who just happens to be the Queen) has died. Don’t have to be sorry that the Queen has died but sorry that someone’s mum has died

Yes, you can, but I think it is inappropriate for school to do that.

Families do not all hold the same views about the monarchy. Which is fine. The school should just not push it.

TwinGirlsOnTheWay · 15/09/2022 07:57

YANBU. Centerparcs closing down, cinemas streaming the funeral but only with free water and no snacks allowed, hospital appointments being cancelled, no kids sport allowed. It's gone from mourning and respect to a national shutdown. Do not allow your child to take part in this, it is for the teachers to post on social media and that is it. The royals will not care.

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:57

I have no problem with homework, I have a problem with being asked to express a certain feeling.

It is hard to explain fully but I think the school has overstepped.

I think the same about being asked to pray vs. learning about religions.

It's exercise in formal writing.

Have you never sent a letter or card of condolence? You don't need to be grieving to do this.

Changedmynamefor · 15/09/2022 07:57

Good grief. It’s a piece of writing that is relevant to a current event. My three did lots of stuff around the London Olympics because it was a major news event. It makes it a bit more interesting and relatable. As PP have said, you just have to write something like “I’m sorry for your loss, but what a long life she had.” You don’t have to swear lifelong allegiance. It’s something they will likely have to do in real life to, so good to know what it is and why we do it.

romdowa · 15/09/2022 07:57

I understand your issue with it but if your dd is going to be made to write it at school if not done at home, then I would do it at home with her , so that you are in control of the contents of the letter.

Shpaniel · 15/09/2022 07:58

Empathy is different to being told how to feel and think. If people had empathy with others in the world maybe we wouldn’t be in the state we are @carefullycourageous

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:58

I am fine with learning but not with being told what to think. This letter is the latter. This work will have been set by a royalist, a republican would not want to set it. The fact not every teacher would feel comfortable to set it means it is not appropriate.

Who is telling people what to think? It's an exercise in formal writing.

You are really overthinking this!!

Jijithecat · 15/09/2022 07:59

My DC once got asked to write a postcard to a giraffe as homework. At no point did either of us think they were writing to a giraffe. It was just writing practice.
If you're really that bothered get them to write a letter to someone else instead.

Freedomfighters · 15/09/2022 07:59

There are bigger hills to die on. But go ahead and be that parent. 🙄

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:59

TwinGirlsOnTheWay · 15/09/2022 07:57

YANBU. Centerparcs closing down, cinemas streaming the funeral but only with free water and no snacks allowed, hospital appointments being cancelled, no kids sport allowed. It's gone from mourning and respect to a national shutdown. Do not allow your child to take part in this, it is for the teachers to post on social media and that is it. The royals will not care.

And how is this comparable to a teacher using a current event to teach formal writing?

carefullycourageous · 15/09/2022 07:59

brookstar · 15/09/2022 07:57

I have no problem with homework, I have a problem with being asked to express a certain feeling.

It is hard to explain fully but I think the school has overstepped.

I think the same about being asked to pray vs. learning about religions.

It's exercise in formal writing.

Have you never sent a letter or card of condolence? You don't need to be grieving to do this.

I have never sent one under orders. I have both drafted them at work and sent them personally but I have never been made to do one from myself to someone I did not choose to.

brookstar · 15/09/2022 08:01

It’s something they will likely have to do in real life to, so good to know what it is and why we do it.

Exactly. Using a current event is an excellent way of adding context

Roselilly36 · 15/09/2022 08:01

I agree with you OP, should optional.

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